Royal Caribbean's Casino Royale loyalty program works differently than those of many land-based casinos.
In Las Vegas, for example, casino players drink free while they play. Waitstaff will stop by tables to take drink orders, and they also will patrol the slot-machine areas and offer beverages.
Related: Royal Caribbean stops sailings to 2 popular Caribbean ports
In a Royal Caribbean casino, not everyone gets free drinks. To earn that privilege, players need to reach Prime status in the Casino Royale loyalty program.
Earning Prime requires a cruiser to amass at least 2,500 points during a Royal Caribbean casino year, which runs April 1 through March 31). You earn points by playing (make sure to insert or tap your card at slot machines and hand your card to a pit boss at table games).
Slot players earn 1 point for every $5 cycled through the machine, while video poker players earn 1 point for every $10 played. Table players generally earn far less per dollar played since those games have better odds for the player.
If you reach Prime or any of the status levels above it, you earn that status for the rest of this cruise year and the full following year. Prime members also are awarded a free 7-day cruise in an interior room — those are usually sent out in mid-April — as well as some other benefits.
Royal Caribbean players get a new offer
Royal Caribbean has some official partners, like its deal with Hard Rock Casinos, where players at various levels of the program get reciprocal benefits between the two companies.
In other cases, casinos in popular cruise-ship destinations offer perks to Casino Royale members as a way to entice them to gamble during a port stop.
The Atlantis in Nassau used to offer free play for Royal Caribbean Casino Royale members but has discontinued that practice.
Now, another Nassau resort casino has added a free-play perk for Royal Caribbean players in partnership with the cruise line.
Royal Caribbean players who opt to visit Baha Mar in Nassau get free slot play on the following schedule:
- Choice: $25
- Prime: $50
- Signature: $75
- Masters: $100
Free play is money that has to be put at risk before the player can pocket it. In this case it's free slot play, so a Royal Caribbean passenger needs to run the money through a machine, and then can cash out and pocket whatever is left.
To claim the perk, players need to register for a Baha Mar Club Blu players card. That means giving your personal contact information to the casino.
"Participants who are eligible to receive a Free Slot play must register at the Club Blu rewards desk," Royal Caribbean explains. "Royal Caribbean Club Royale rewards cardholders must present their SeaPass Card, reflecting their Club Royale tier, and their photo ID, and visit Club Blu to register for the promotion and validate their tier level. Participants are required to produce their Club Blu card, or a valid form of identification for verification before they can register."
Have questions about booking a cruise? Schedule a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner Postcard Travel Planning.
(The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise)
Casino Royale players can claim the free slot play only once every 12 months.
A taxi from the cruise port to Baha Mar would take about 15 minutes and cost anywhere from $40-$50. That means that unless you have an alternative way to get to the resort casino (or planned to go there anyway), the free slot play is not a major benefit.
Still, since at least some Royal Caribbean players will visit Baha Mar on most Nassau stops, this is a nice added perk to make those trips a little more lucrative.
Are you taking a cruise or thinking about taking one? Visit our Come Cruise With Me website to have all your questions answered.
